Complication of Continuous Versus Bolus Feeding among Critically Ill Patient: A Randomised Control Trial

Introduction: Critically ill patients are prone to malnutrition because of their hyper metabolic condition and increased requirement of nutrition supply. The purpose of the study was to compare the complication of bolus and continuous method of enteral nutrition in critically ill patients. Methodology: A randomised control study was done in intensive care unit of Himalayan hospital Dehradun. The study included a total of 136 patients who were randomised to continuous (n=68) and bolus (n=68) method of enteral nutrition. The data regarding complication of enteral nutrition was obtained on 1st, 2nd and 3rd day of enteral nutrition. Result: In the study both the finding method had shown similar effects in terms of complications. There was no incidence of tube obstruction, tube displacement, gastric aspiration and vomiting seen in both the groups, but the incidence of gastric aspiration (3.3%) was seen on 2nd and 3rd day and the incidence of diarrhea (6.7%) was seen on 2nd day in bolus group. Whereas there was only 1 incidence (3.3%) of diarrhea was seen in continuous group. Conclusion: The study concluded that continuous and bolus feeding methods had similar effect in terms complication in critically ill patients admitted in ICU.